Bedfordshire Humanists

Ollie Killingback did a brilliant job at our January meeting. His topic was ‘Biblical Language’. Ollie discussed the difficulties of language, with examples from our own time. He then discussed the translation of the Bible from Hebrew to Greek to Latin to English, and how at each stage the choice of words in the translation can completely alter the meaning of the text. Finally he discussed how taking a literalist view of the Bible, as many do today, leads to misinterpretation of the text.

Mid-Bedfordshire Conservative MP Nadine Dorries’ Ten Minute Rule Bill on abstinence-based sex education – for girls aged 13-16 only – is getting its Second Reading this Friday, 20th January. Abstinence isn’t a new idea. It is used in some states of the United States and has been shown not to work. That is not speculation; there is actual evidence, actual statistics. We believe that this is another example of Nadine Dorries putting her religious faith ahead of the interests of her constituents.

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed a new revision of the model funding agreement for Free Schools by the Government in order to preclude ‘the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations.’ This highly significant change has been made in order to ban creationism from being taught in Free Schools, and prevent creationist groups from op

Bedfordshire Humanists wish all of our Members, Associates and readers a Happy New Year.

Our group has made great advances in the old year, and we hope for greater achievements in the new one. Why not consider joining us and aiding our campaigns?

Bedfordshire Humanists wish all of our members, Associates and Visitors a very Merry Christmas.

Although Humanists are atheists or agnostics, the consensus amongst our members is that it is fine to wish people a Merry Christmas. There has been a mid-winter celebration for thousands of years, long predating Christianity. What we call Christmas is only the current version of that festival. It is fine to enjoy the festival without buying in to the supernatural connotations.

Members and Associates will be aware that last year Bedfordshire Humanists applied to join the local SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education), which sets the Religious Education syllabus for schools in Bedford Borough. Humanism is now a part of Religious Education, which is legally required to be interpreted as Religion and Ethics.

We were rejected, with no reason being given. We were required to wait one year before reapplying.

We reapplied this year, and again were rejected with no explanation being given.

The December issue No.23 of our bi-monthly newsletter, ‘The Bedfordshire Humanist’, is now available. Our newsletters contain news of the things we’ve done, information about the things we’re going to do, news, views, stories, you name it. If you are not currently on the distribution list and you would like to be e-mailed a free copy, please send your e-mail address to admin@bedshumanists.org.uk

We held our annual Quiz ‘n’ Chips event, our annual quiz with a fish and chip supper thrown in, on the evening of Tuesday, 22nd November. The result was that ‘Summerhill’ won the prize. There was only one point in it, and so it was something of a cliff-hanger. Bad luck to ‘Mike ‘n’ Tony ‘n’ Graeme’ for a near miss. The wooden spoon went to ‘Clueless’, who lived up to their name. Alas, I was one of them.

There were two written rounds. Readers wanting to try their hand should contact us to receive out latest newsletter, The Bedfordshire Humanist, issue 23, where those rounds are reproduced.

Bedfordshire Humanists laid a wreath again this year, at the war memorial on the Embankment at Bedford.

Our member David Brittain, in his role as General Secretary of the UK
Armed Forces Humanist Association (UKAFHA), appeared on BBC Three
Counties Radio on Sunday to give his ‘Thought for the Day’.